IP evacuation plan deemed inadequate

(01/10/03) BUCHANAN - The long-awaited independent report regarding the quality of Indian Point's emergency plan was released Friday and the results were no surprise to county lawmakers. In the 500-page report to the governor, James Lee Witt Associates found that the Indian Point evacuation plan is inadequate and not capable of protecting residents from radiation.

This week, lawmakers were demanding that the report be made public after learning that it was submitted to the governor on December 15. With increased concerns since September 11th, Governor George Pataki decided to hire an outside source to evaluate the Indian Point Plan. James Lee Witt, the former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, was selected for the job.

In light of the report, Westchester County Executive Andy Spano says an immediate shut down at Indian Point may now be a good idea. But while he agrees with Witt's assessment, he notes shutting down Indian Point's reactors would not eliminate the need to make the so called "evacuation plan" better.